Finally the Fall Meeting was on!

After weeks and weeks of preparation we headed South to TheCamp, our venue only opened one month before the event to discover this stunning place in the heart of Provence.

Sun, blue sky and the famous “Mistral” wind welcomed us there. This cold wind coming from the North is said to drive you crazy. Therefore, an old proverb stipulates that crimes committed after 27 days of uninterrupted “Mistral” won’t be punished – we did not have the opportunity to verify – not enough time and no crime ….

CEO-CF must have been one of the first groups they hosted and it was thrilling –sometimes difficult – to be part of this new adventure; it coupled well with the innovation spirit of our members and guests.

After a first glass at the Bar, Christian’s informal welcoming speech – without slides and notes this time – opened our appetite for the “show cooking experience” at TheCamp’s Restaurant.

Members were happy to reconnect and newcomers have been well integrated.

The agenda of the following 2 days was filled with 20 CEO-Challenges, networking breaks and content sessions. Walter Baets, Dean of TheCamp, held a keynote about complexity and incited us to reflect on how we deal with it.

Keith Cornell, Group 1 Member, shared his Learning from Failures in a workshop, giving examples and having members think about how to face their own failures :

– Do Autopsies

– Be Brutal with Yourself

– Have a Framework

At the same time HMC gave insights about Venture Debt and the Growth Capital Mix to inform younger and older entrepreneurs about diverse fund raising solutions at different stages of their companies.    

3 very appreciated Cross Group Challenges to get and give different feedback and our “new-born” Open Challenge took place on Friday.

As every innovation it stumbled at the beginning but in the end this new format in front of the whole community was a success – hopefully also for its presenter David Frodsham… and will have a place in the upcoming meetings.

A lot of work. But there was also a lot of fun.

To get out of our comfort zone and move our bodies – not too much, however – all attendees were invited to a Pétanque competition at sunset under majestic plane trees. Teams of 2-3 were formed randomly and allowed us to get to know our mates differently. There was competition – hey, they are CEOs – but a lot of laughter, too.

And the winners were… Double A: Adrian O’Connor and Arnaud Mascarell.

A fabulous 10-course dinner in the 1* restaurant “The Chateau de la Pioline” closed the day and freed up our minds.

As usual these 2 days flew very quickly, so waiting (and preparing) for the Spring Meeting in Budapest we wish you all HAPPY HOLIDAYS !